Comments by Kyle Butler9/11/23, 9:50 AM City of Northampton Mail - Public comment for Map ID 39A-052
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ik=46b15cdcbd&view=pt&search=all&permmsgid=msg-f:1776616604389150268&simpl=msg-f:1776616604389150268 1/1
Nathan Chung <nchung@northamptonma.gov>
Public comment for Map ID 39A-052
Kyle Butler <kyle.butler@gmail.com>Sat, Sep 9, 2023 at 10:40 PM
To: nchung@northamptonma.gov
To whom it may concern:
I am a resident at 68 Lyman Rd., writing in response to public comment for the property at 86 Lyman
Rd. MAP ID 39A-052 seeking to create a shared driveway and add two proposed single family homes on
the existing lot.
Based on the narrative and description in the planning files, this project is self-contained to its existing
footprint, likely having no impact to the properties surrounding it. It aims to organize the parking for the
multi-family unit, and adds two additional properties which will likely increase the tax base for the city. I
see no reason to oppose this project.
However, it would be appreciated if the city could re-examine this particular stretch of residential
roadway. There are several issues that might necessitate some traffic calming measures:
1. This is a straight stretch of road, causing out-of-neighborhood cars to accelerate from one
end to the other
2. Street parking creates obstructed views of driveways and corners
3. Cars coming up from the meadows cannot see traffic until they have crested the hill, often ata high rate of speed
4. Out of town traffic expecting to enter the highway through the meadows, or maybe drive
through the meadows: once they reach the entrance to the meadows, they often realize it is not
paved/passable and use the driveway at 86 Lyman to turn around
5. Traffic congestion on Lyman Rd. entering from South St.: drivers/trucks coming and going
from the Fort Hill Day Care, a high density of street parking, and drivers/trucks entering from
South St. cause congestion along this part of Lyman Rd. There are instances where it isimpossible for two cars to pass one another
Since the pandemic, many new families have moved into the neighborhood increasing the number of
children playing in the area. Additionally, many of the neighbors find it convenient to walk in the middle of
the road for any number of reasons (i.e. poor quality of sidewalks due to root intrusion, or significant
overgrowth of plants and trees making the sidewalks impassible, or just because they want to). These
issues, combined with vehicle traffic causes various conflicts.
Again, I see no reason to oppose the project at 86 Lyman Rd. However, anything that can be done to
generally calm the traffic on Lyman Rd. would be helpful. It might be signs coming up from the meadows
warning drivers to slow down, reminders that there are children in the area playing and biking, speed limit
signs, etc.
Thank you,
Kyle Butler